An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation cut short an assessment tour of Pakistan for next year's Champions Trophy following the declaration of emergency rule, an official said Sunday.

"We are calling off the assessment tour because of the existing political situation in Pakistan and will return to complete the tour at an appropriate time," ICC spokesman Samiul Hasan told AFP.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Saturday imposed a state of emergency in the country, suspending the constitution in a major political move ahead of national elections due early next year.

The five-member ICC team arrived on Friday and had inspected venues at Lahore and Sheikhupura on their assessment tour, during which they were also due to finalise the dates of the event.

The delegation was due to tour Rawalpindi and Karachi in the next two days but had to cancel the tour due to political situation, said Hasan.

Pakistan will host the biennial Champions Trophy, regarded as the second biggest tournament in the sport after the World Cup, next year.

Foreign teams have raised safety concerns over touring Pakistan amidst political unrest and a surge in terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

South Africa completed a tour of Pakistan last week after initially showing reluctance over security fears. They played a three-day tour match and a five-day Test in Karachi on their tour which started in late September.

However, the tourists refused to play the fifth and final one-day match in the southern port city where twin suicide attacks on former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's homecoming parade on October 18 killed 139 people.